Man who went missing in Gila River found dead: MCSO
AVONDALE, Ariz. - The search for a man who went missing in the Gila River over the weekend has ended on a tragic note.
According to officials with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, the man, identified as 53-year-old Carlos Sanchez, has drowned.
The search began at around 7:00 p.m. on Nov. 5, when Maricopa County Sheriff's deputies responded to the area of El Mirage and Indian Springs roads after they got a report of someone yelling for help in the area.
When deputies got there, they couldn't find anyone near the water.
Sanchez's relatives said he went into the river Sunday evening in search of a lost item.
"He was here sometime back, and he lost his mother’s ring," said Sanchez's nephew, Daniel Yescas.
Divers scoured the water, under the surface for several hours. They say the water at this part of the Gila River is about six feet to 10 feet deep.
Officials with MCSO also used various technologies, including an underwater robot and a drone to pinpoint the man’s location.
At around 2:15 p.m., crews recovered a body from the river.
"No foul play is suspected at this time," said Sgt. Joqauin Enriquez with MCSO.
"He’s a beautiful man," said Yescas. "He’s always been there for me. He’s a father, a grandfather, a husband, he means so much to everybody."